Bag-filling device



Aug. 16-, 1927.

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I avwcmfoz I a W1 AOQA l I Gttoznmg Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

' UNITED STATES PETER LASSEN, OF ROANOKE, TEXAS.

This invention relates to devices for filling bags with grain or other like commodity.

The primary object is to provide a device to be used in connection with a combined bag holder and cut-.oii' such as shown in Patent No. 1,576,660, issued to me'March 16,1926, "the present invention being applicable toa vertically disposed chute for grain or the like, in order to measure a given quantity of grain sufficient to properly fill the bag.

@ Another object is to provide improved means for connecting the upper, or measuring valve membersto the aforesaid combined bag holder and cut-ofi' whereby, when the filled bag is released from the bag holder, by manually operated means, and the said cut by the same means, is closed at the bottom of the chute to prevent the grain from falling therethrough, the said upper, measuring valve members are automatically opened, to allow the grain to pass the same and fill the chamber between the two valve members, while another bag is being placed on the bag holders.

Another object is to provide :means for automatically operating the two Valve members simultaneously, said means including a bag-catching device designed for actuation by the falling bag of grain, so that the operator need attend only to the application of the empty bags to the lower end of the chute and to the manipulation of the bag holding means.

A further object is to provide means for raising or lowering the upper, or measuring valve members, so as to provide a greater or lesser space between the same and the lower valve within the chute, for measuring oft different quantities of grain, depending on the size of the bags being filled, and for preserving the connections between the two valves at the same time.

A. still further object is to provide means carried by the cage or frame supporting the upper, adjustable valve members for preventing leakage of the grain or other commodity from the chute through the vertical openings necessary for the passage of the said valve members, it being understood that said members mustpass into and out of the chute and are operated from the outside of the chute and at the same time are raised or lowered, as stated, to different adjustments.

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a oonsidera Application filed August 16, 1926.. Serial No. 123,547.

BAG-FILLING DEVICE.

tion of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification; it being understood that while the drawings show a practical form of the invention, the latter is not to be confined to strict conformity with the showing thereof, but may be changed or modified, so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the'drawings, .in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures V Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved bag filling device, the partsbeing shown in position for filling a bag.

Figure 2 is a similar View showing a filled and released bag in position for actuating the upper, or measuring valve members.

Figure 3 is an enlarged reverse view of the chute and the parts carried thereby.

Figure 4 is a vertical section through the same and looking from the opposite direction.

Figure 5. is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a similar view taken on the line 66 of: Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a detail side elevation of the cage or frame carrying the upper, measuring valve members, detached from the chute.

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail showing the means for preventing leakage of grain through the openings in the chute for the adjustment of the measuring valve members and also the means for scraping or wiping the same.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an ordinary, vertically disposed grain chute l which is usually formed of woo-d but which mav be of any other approved construction and through which grain is adapted to pass by gravity. While the invention is particularly designed for use in connection with the handling of grain, it is to be understood that the same may be used to equal advantage in the handling of other commodities, such as other similar granular material, fibrous material, lime, cement, etc.

The device of the hereinbefore mentioned patent consists of a lowercut-off valve and coacting bag holding means operated simultaneously by a single manually-operated hand lever which closes the said valve and releases a filled bag at the same time and by a single movement of the lever, the reverse movement of the same serving to project the bag holding means into engagement with the upper end of the bag, after the same has been placed in position around the lower end of the chute, and at the same time opening said valve to allow the material to gravitate into the bag.

This same principle is involved in the present improvements, though with some modifieation thereof and to this end a casing or extension 2 is suitably attached to the lower end of the chute, said casing being preferably formed of suitable sheet metal plates or sides held together by corner irons of angular formation. On the front and the back of the extension, the corner irons are further strengthened by lower cross bars 4: spaced from the ends of the extension and suitably secured to the angle irons.

Mounted in the lower cross bars 41- is a pair of shafts 5 extending from front to back and located adjacent to the sides of the extension, said shafts being located on the inside of the chute and having depending hooks 6 connected thereto, the points 7 of which project outwardly through holes 8 formed in the sides of the chute near the lower end thereof. When these shafts are rocked in opposite directions, the hook points are caused to be drawn into the chute to free a bag or to be projected outwardly to have the upper end of a bag engaged therewith, while the mouth of the latter is in surrounding relation to the lower end of the chute.

The front ends of the shafts 5 project beyond the outer face of the lower cross bar 4 sufliciently to have a crank arm 9 secured to each one, said crank arms normally standing in an-upright position and having pivotal connection with one end of a pair of curved links 10 which, in turn, have their other ends pivotally connected to a manually operated lever 11' adjacent to one end thereof. The other, free end of the lever is provided with a counterbalance weight 11 to assist in the operation of the same in an obvious manner.

Between the pivots connecting the links 10 to the operating lever 11, the latter is fulcruined on a trunnion 12 carried by a vertically disposed plate 13 depending from an upper cross bar 14 similar to the aforesaid lower cross bar 4:. When the hand lever is swung in one direction, say to the right, as viewed in Figure 1 of the drawings, the hooks 7 are caused to swing outwardly through the side walls of the chute in position to have a bag easily engaged therewith, while, by swinging the said lever to the left, as shown in Fig. 2, the said hooks are swung into the chute and the bag released.

The trunnion 12 is suitably formed to hold the hand lever in spaced relation to the side of the supporting bar 13 and the pivots of the links 10 which connect the latter to said hand lever, are extended through the same 7 to act as pivotal connections for the termina-ls of another pair of links 15, which, like the outer links 10, are curved in a manner to allow the hand lever to be thrown from one extreme position to the right to the other 7 extreme position to the left, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. The other ends of the second named links are connected to front hanger arms 16 for sup porting valve members to be described and The rear hanger arms The outer, swinging ends of the front and rear hanger arms 16 are connected together by a cross bar, preferably formed integrally therewith, and to said cross bar is connected the outer edges of arcuately curved valve plates or members 20 which are imperforate and which are struck on the arc of a circle having the alined pivots 17 and 18 as a center. The arcuate valve members 20 pass through slots 21 formed in the sides of the extension 2 and are adapted to be brought into abutting relation to constitute a lower cut-off at the bottom of the chute and to effectually prevent grain or other commodity from falling out of said chute. It will be seen that when the hand lever is swung in one direction, the valve members and the bag holding hooks will be simultaneously swung inwardly to close the chute and to release a filled bag and when said hand lever is swung in the other direction, the valve members will be automatically opened and the hooks thrust outwarely to engage the upper edges of a bag, it being assumed. that said bag has been placed. in surrounding relation to the lower end of the chute.

When a filled bag, as indicated in dotted lines at 22 in Figure 2 of the drawing, has thus been released, the same falls upon a depressible platform 23 arranged below the lower end of the chute and it is the automatic swinging of said platform which is utilized to actuate a pair of upper measuring valve members 2 1 located in the chute at varying distances from the lower valve, depending on the amount of grain to be entrapped between the valves to fill different sizes of bags.

The platform is provided with a back wall 25 and the supporting arms of the platform are extended to one side of the chute and are pivoted at 26 to the upper ends of posts 27 to elevate the platform above the floor even when the same is in its de ressed position, which is substantially horizontal, as shown in Fig. 2.

Intermediate of the ends of the supporting arms of the platform there is pivoted the lower end of pull bar 28 which extends vertically to a point considerably above the upper end of the extension 2, and adjacent to its upper end, the pull bar is provided with a plurality of inclined slots defining a series of hooks 29, one of which is adapted to be engaged by a pin 30 carried by an upper valve actuating lever 31. When the upper valve is adjusted up or down on the chute 1, the pin 30 is changed to a different hook 29 to accord therewith. The lever 31 is bifurcated at the end adjacent to the chute. and the arms of the bifurcation straddle the chute, as shown at 32, and are pivot-ed, as at 33, to the lower band 34 surrounding the chute and forming, together with other parts to be described, a vertically slidable cage or frame carrying the aforesaid upper valve members 24 and adapted to be adjusted up and down upon the chute to increase or decrease the distance between the lower and upper valve to measure differentquantities of the grain or the like, depending upon the size of the bags to be filled.

Extending upwardly from the corners of the said lower band 34, are corner uprights 35, to the upper ends of which are secured an intermediate band 36. To the corners of the band 36 are secured other uprights 37 in the form of heavier angle irons embracing the corner of the chute, the upper ends of the uprights 37 being connected together by face plates 38. all of these connected parts, including the bands 34 and 36, to-

gether with the uprights and 37 and the.

plates 38, forming the aforesaid frame which may be. readily raised or lowered and held in proper adjusted position.

One branch of the bifurcation 32, at the front of the chute, is extended beyond the pivot 33 to form an arm 39, and midway of the length of said arm there is pivotally connected the lower ends of a pair of inclined links 40, the upper ends of which are separated and pivotally connected to the intermediate portions of rocking arms 41 which are pivoted at their inner ends, as at 42. to the center of the intermediate band 36.

The arms 41 are extended upwardly at an angle to form opposite valve-supporting arms 43, at the front of the chute, said arms being integrally connected with a cross bar to which is attached the upper arcuate valve members 24 formed in the same manner as the lower valve members except that the convex sides of the upper members are on top while those of the lower members are beneath.

The rear ends of the cross bars having the upper valve members attached thereto, are bent to form rear valve supporting arms 44 conforming to the front arms 43, and which are pivoted at 45 to the rear side of the intermediate band 36 in'alinement with the front pivot 42. i The outer ends of the front rocking arms 41 are connected to the upper ends of coiled springs 46 and the latter are adjustably connected at their lower ends, by means of toothed plates 47, to the lower band 34 of the adjustable cage or frame. The desired tooth of the plates 47 may be detachably engaged with studs 49 on the said lower band 34, to increase or decrease the tension on the springs 46 in order that the latter may properly close the upper valve members in an obvious manner, and also, through the medium of the links 40, the actuating lever 31 and the pull bar 28, elevate the platform to active position again and ready to receive anotl er falling bag, as shown in Fig. 1.

Tu order to prevent the upper valve members 24 from abutting too hard at their inner edges, when closing, and in order to stop the platform at the proper, substantially hori-, zontal position when under theweight of the filled bag, the limits of movement of the actuating lever 31 must be controlled and forthis purpose a cross bar orhead 50 is formed thereon at the inner end of the exnded arm 39 thereof. This cross head has terminal lugs 51 formed thereon which are adapted to alternately engage with an outstanding stud or pin'52 carried by the lower band 34. VVhenthe platform is depressed. the movement thereof is arrested by the lower lug 51 abutting the stud 52, as the actuating lever 31 rocks about its intermediate pivot 33 and at the same time the outward movement of the upper valve members, through the upward push of the links 40 and the rocking of the arms 41 and 43,'is arrested, and the springs 46 are expanded, as 3? the free ends of said arms 41 rise. When the filled bag is removed from the platform, the latter is elevated again by the contraction of the springs, through the reverse movement of the arms 41. the downward 5? push of the links 40 which depresses the adjacent end of the actuating lever 31, thus pulling upwardly on the bar 28 and raising the platform, at which time the upper lug 51 engages the stud 52 and the movement is the purpose stated, a vertically disposed link 53 is connected, on the rear of the chute. to the lower band 34, while the upper end of said link is pivotally connected to one end of a hand lever 54 intermediately fulcrumed V as at 55, to the rear side of the chute and formed in the inner plate 62.

having aprojecting handle 56 at its free end which extends to one side of the chute, so as to be readily grasped from a position in front of the chute. An arcuate, slotted keeper 57, secured to the back of the chute, is adapted to hold the adjusting lever 54: in any desired position, by means of a clamping bolt 58.

As the upper valve members must extend through the sides of the chute to close off the same and to be operated from the outside, it becomes necessary to provide means for permitting the vertical adjustment of said valve members and yet prevent any leakage of grain or the like at this point. For this purpose the sides of the chute are provided with vertically elongated openings 59, there being one of such openings on each side, and fitted into each opening is a horizontally disposed bar 60 which is held by bolts or rivets 61 to a plate 37 secured at its vertical edges to the come posts 37. An inner plate 62 is held by said bolts or rivets 61 against the inner face of the bar 60 and is adapted to slide up and down with the frame to exclude grain from the opening 59. The upper valve members pass through arcuate slots 63 in the plates 37. a slot 64 in the bar 60, and a corresponding slot 65 In order to wipe or scrape the valve members as they move outwardly and inwardly and to pre vent the passage of grain through said slots, upper and lower wipers 66 are mounted in the slot 64, said wipers being preferably formed of felt or similar material bent upon itself to lend some pressure thereto. A sigh opening 67, having a glass panel, is provided in the front wall of the chute to View the upper valve.

From the foregoing it is thought a full understanding of the construction and operation of the invention will be had and the advantages of the same will be appreciated, as it will be seen that by a simple manipulation of the lever 11 at the lower end of the chute, the cut-ofi valve is closed, the hooks retracted, the bag allowed to drop which then serves to open the upper, measuring valve automatically and to allow the proper amount of grain to fall and be held ready to fill the next bag.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bag filling device, a chute adapted to carry falling grain or the like, an autoutaticullv operated upper valve adapted to cut off the supply, a lower valve adapted to confine an exact bagful between the same and the upper valve, bag holders mounted at the lower end of the chute, a hand lever connected to simultaneously close the lower valve and release the filled bag from the holders, depressible means for catching the filled bag to be actuated thereby, and means connecting the bag-catching means with the upper valve to open the latter and allow a bag full of grain or the like to fall on the closed lower valve.

2. In a bag filling device, a vertically disposed supply chute, a lower valve adapted to close the latter, movable supports adapted to hold a bag, unitary means for simultaneously moving the valve into closed position and the supports into bag-releasing position and vice versa, bag-catching means arranged beneath and adapted to be depressed by the bag when the same is filled and released, an upper valve mounted in the chute and adapted to open to fi l the chute between the valves when the lower valve is closed, and means connecting the bag-catching means and the upper valve to auton'iatically operate the latter when the bag supports release the bag.

3. In a bag filling device adapted to be mounted on a vertical chute, an extension fitted to the lower end of the chute, a lower valve mounted in the extension, means-for operating said valve, bag supporting means carried by the extension and automatically operated by said means, a vertically adjustable frame mounted on the chute above the extension, an upper valve carried by said frame and adapted to be projected into the chute. a depressible platform mounted be low the bag, and means connecting the platform to the upper valve to automatically open the latter when the lower valve is closed and the bag supports are simultaneously actuated to release the bag and allow the latter to fall on said platform.

4:. In a bag filling device, a vertical chute, an extension casing secured to the lower end ofthe-chute, opposite arcuate valve members traversing the sides of the extension, arms supporting the valve members, manually operated means for actuating the arms to project the valve members into abutting relation within the chute to close the same, spaced shafts traversing the chute below the valve :ien'ibers, hooks depending from the shafts and bent. to extend through the sides of the chute to hold a bag in surrounding relation to the lower end of the extension, cranks secured to the exposed ends of the shafts, and links connecting the cranks to the valve actuating means to cause the rel-ease of the bag when the valve is closed.

5. In a bag filling device, a vertical chute, a casin g extendingfrom the lower end thereof, opposite arcuate valve members traversing the sides of the extension, side arms connected to the outer ends of the members and terminally pivoted on the exterior of the chute, transverse shafts mounted in the sides of the extension below the valve members and within the chute, depending hooks carri ed by the shafts and having outwardly directed points extenaing through the sides of the extension and adapted to-l1old a bag around the lower end of the latter, cranks carried by the shafts where extendin through the side of the extension, a hand lever intermediately fulcrumed on the extension between the shafts and the pivots of the side arms, and links connecting the said side arms and cranks to the hand lever to close the valve members and simultaneously draw the hooks inwardly to release thebag when filled.

6. In a bag filling device, a vertical chute, an extension casing secured to the lower end of the chute, opposite arcuate valve members traversing the sides of the extension, arms supporting the valve members, manually operated means for actuating the arms to project the valve members into abutting relation within the chute to close the same, spaced shafts traversing the chute below the valve members, hooks depending from the shafts and bent to extend through the sides of the chute to hold a bag in surrounding relation to the lower end of the extension, cranks secured to the exposed ends of the shafts, links connecting the cranks to the valve actuating means to cause the release of the bag when the valve is closed, an upper cut-off valve composed of opposite coacting members, said upper valve being vertically adjustable to cut off the supply from above the same and define an exact bagful between the valves, and means arranged beneath the extension to catch the filled bag when released and to open the upper valve, I

7 In a bag filling device, a vertical chute, a casing extending from the lowerv end thereof, opposite arcuate valve members traversing the sides of the extension, side arms connected to the outer ends of the members and terminally pivoted on the exterior of the chute, transverse shafts mounted in the sides of the extension below the valve members and within the chute. depending hooks carried by the shafts and having outwardly directed points extending through the sides of the extension and adapted to hold a bag around the lower end of the latter, cranks carried by the shafts'where ex tending through the side of the extension, a hand lever intermediately fulcrumed on the extension between the shafts and the pivots of the side arms, a pair of links connecting a pair of the side arms to the hand lever at opposite sides of the fulcrum thereof, and another pair of links connecting the free ends of the cranks to the hand lever at similar points to cause the hooks to be swung into the extension and release the filled bag and at the same time to move the valve members to closed position when the hand lever is operated.

8. In a bag filling device, a vertical chute, an extension open at each end and secured to the lower end of the chute, opposed, arouate valve members mounted in the extension to swing inwardly to close the lower end of the chute, bag holders mounted below the valves, manually operated means for simultaneously closing the valves and releasing a filled bag, a swingable plat-form for catching the filled bag, a vertically adjustable frame surrounding the chute above the extension, upper valve members pivotally mounted on the frame, said chute having openings to permit said members to swing into and close the same and to permit the upper valve to be moved vertically to define a greater or lesser space between the same and the lower valve, and means connectingv the swingable platform to the upper valve members to automatically open the latter when the bag falls on and depresses the platform. a

9. In a bag filling device, a vertical chute, an extension open at each end and secured to the lower end of the chute, opposed, arcuate valve members mounted in the extension to swing inwardly to close the lower ed of the chute, bag holders mounted below the valves, manually operated means for simultaneously closing the valves and releasing a filled bag, a swingable platform for catching the filled. bag, a vertically adjustable frame surrounding the chute abovethe extension, said frame being of open formation, means for raising or lowering the frame on the chute and holding the same, said chute having elongated vertical openings in its sides near the upper portion of the frame, arcuate upper valve members having side arms pivotally mounted on the intermediate portion of the frame and ex tending through said openings, slide plates carried by the frame and adapted to move. up and down therewith and prevent leakage through said openings, and means connecting the swingable platform to the side arms of the valve members to cause the latter to swing outwardly to open position when a filled bag drops on said platform.

1 10. In 'abag filling device, a vertical chute, an extension open at each'end and secured to the lower end of the chute, opposed, arcuate valve members mounted in the extension to swing inwardly to close the lower end of the chute, bag holders mounted below the valves, manually operated means for simultaneouslyclosing the valves and releasing a filled bag, a swingable platform for catching the filled bag, a vertically adjustable frame surrounding the chute above the extension, said frame being of open formation and having upper, lower and intermediate bands surrounding the chute, a hand lever pivotally mounted on the rear of the chute, a link connecting the free end of the lever to said lower band to adjust the frame on the chute, means for holding the lever in adjusted position, upper opposed valve members pivotally mounted on the frame, said chute having elongated openings in the opposite sides thereof to permit the valve members to be moved inwardly to closed position and outwardly to open position in any vertical adjustment, means for preventing leakage through said openings, and connecting means bet-ween the platform and the valve members to actuate the latter.

11. In a bag filling device, a vertical chute, an extension open at each end and secured to the lower end of the chute, opposed, arcuate valve members mounted in the extension to swing inwardly to close the lower end of the chute, bag holders mounted below the valves, manually operated means for simultaneously closing the valves and releasing a filled bag, a swingable platform for catching the filled bag, a vertically adjustable frame surrounding the chute above the extension, said frame being of open formation, means for raising or lowering the frame on the chute and holding the same, said chute having elongated vertical opena" ings in its sides near the upper portion of the frame, arcuate upper valve members having side arms pivotally mounted on the intermediate portion of the frame and extending through said openings, an inner and an outer plate carried by the frame at each side to cover the said openings in the chute and prevent leakage, extensions formed on the side arms at one side of the chute, an actuating lever intermediately fulcrumed on the lower end of the frame, links connecting one end of the actuating lever to the side arm extensions, and an adjustable pull rod connecting the platform to the actuating lever to cause the upper valve members to open outwardly, and recharge the lower end of the chute when the released bag falls on the platform.

12. In a bag filling device, a vertical chute, a manually operated lower valve located therein, bag holders located below said valve, means for simultaneously moving the valve into open position and the holders into holding position-to support the bag and fill the same with falling grain or the like, a depressible platform to receive the filled bag when the holders are withdrawn and the valve closed by said manually operated means, a vertically adjustable cage or frame surrounding the chute above the lower valve, said chute having vertically elongated open-' ings in opposite sides thereof, upper arcuate valve members carried by the frame and adapted to swing inwardly through said openings to abut at their inner edges and shut off the flow from above, inner and outer guard plates carried by the frame to cover the openings in all adjustments of the frame, said plates having transverse slots to permit the valve members to pass therethrough, means'for raising or lowering the frame and holding the same, and means connectingthesaid depressible platform to the upper valve members to open the same when the platform is depressed.

I 13. In a bag filling device, a vertical chute, a lower valve mounted therein, bag supports located below said valve, means connected to the valve and supports for simultaneously operating the same to open the valve and project the supports into bag-holding position, a depressible platformaranged below the lower end of the chute, said chute having opposite, vertically elongated openings located above said valve, an open cage or frame surrounding the chute above and below said openings, means for vertically adjusting and holding said frame, guard plates having slots and adapted to prevent leakage through said openings, upper valve members passing through said slots in said plates, scrapers mounted between the plates to bear above and below said valve members, side arms depending at angles from each outer corner of the valve members, said arms being pivoted to the intermediate portion of the frame. and at either side thereof, one pair of adjacent arms being extended beyond the pivot of the same, an aetuating'lever intermediatelv pivoted to the lower portion of the frame, links connected to the inner endportion of the actuating lever and to the extended arms, a vertical pull bar pivoted at its lower end to the platform and having a plurality of hooks at its upper end, and a pin carried by the actuating lever and adapted to engage one of the hooks to rock the lever and openthe upper valve when the platform is depressed.

14. In a bag filling device, a vertical chute, a. lower valve mounted therein, bag supports located below said valve, means connected to the valve and supports for simul taneously operating the same to open the valve and project the supports into bagholding position, a depressible platform arranged below the lower end of the chute, said chute having opposite, vertically elongated openings located above said valve, an open cage or frame surrounding the chute above and below said openings, means for vertically adjusting and holding said frame, guard plates having slots and adapted to prevent leakage through said openings, upper valve members passing through said slots in said plates, scrapers mounted between the plates to bear above and below said valve members, side arms depending at angles from each outer corner of the valve members, said arms being pivoted to the intermediate portion of the frame and at either side thereof, one pair of adjacent arms being extended beyond the pivot of the same, an actuating lever intermediately pivoted to the lower portion of the frame, links connected to the inner end portion of the actuating lever and to the extended arms, coiled springs connected at their upper ends to the terminals of the arm extensions, the lower ends of the springs being adjustably connected to the lower portion of the frame to normally hold the upper valve members closed, and a vertical pull bar pivotally connected to the platform and adjustably connected to the actuating lever to open the upper valve members against the pull of the springs when the platform is depressed.

15. In a bag filling device, a vertical chute, a lower valve mounted therein, bag supports located below said valve, means connected to the valve and supports for simultaneously operating the same to open the valve and project the supports into bagholding position, a depressilole platform arranged below the lower end of the chute, said chute having opposite, vertically elongated openings located above said valve, an open cage or frame surrounding the chute above and below said openings, means for vertically adjusting and holding said frame, guard plates having slots and adapted to prevent leakage through said openings, up per valve members passing through said slots in said plates, scrapers mounted between the plates to bear above and below said valve members, side arms depending at angles from each outer corner of the valve members, said arms being pivoted to the 1ntermediate portion of the frame and at either side thereof, one pair of adjacent arms beingextended beyond the pivot of the same, an actuating lever intermediately pivoted to the lower portion of the frame, links connected to the inner end portion of the actuating lever and to the extended arms, coiled springs connected at their upper ends to the terminals of the arm extensions, the lower ends of the springs being adjustably connected to the lower portion of the frame to normally hold the upper valve members closed, a vertical pull bar pivotally connected to the platform and adjustably connected to the actuating lever to open the upper valve members against the pull of the springs when the platform is depressed, an outstanding pin projecting from the lower end of the vertically adjustable frame, and spaced lugs carried by the inner end of the actuating lever to abut the said pin to limit the swing of the lever and arrest the valve members in their opening and closing movements.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have vhereto afiixed my signature,

PETER LASSEN. 

